Posts by Incognito

41

Why do I suddenly get stupid when the elders talk to me

by JWinprotest in

does anyone else have the same problem.

when i'm alone, i am constantly thinking about all the clever things i'm going to say if visited by the elders, but when i actually get confronted, these things never come to mind, and i keep spitting out drivel like some dumb idiot.

after they leave, i rethink the conversation, and i'm furious over all the oppotunities i've missed to put them in their place.......damn it!!!!!

Incognito

I believe that it's easy to become flustered, if you believe you have something to loose.

JWinprotest said: ... I don't want to say anything incriminating. I have a tendency of going off when I get worked up. So I'm a bit handicapped that way.

I think that wanting to remain in a somewhat friendly relationship (ie: not Disfellowshipped) with the elders and members of your family, places an extra burden on you in watching what you say. If you didn't care about maintaining relationships and didn't have anything to loose (or didn't care), it would be easier to not be P-C and say anything you want without mincing words.

Some questions to consider:

What do you expect to gain by saying some 'cleaver things'? (Your words from initial post)

What will be the result if you say little and don't argue or say 'clever things'?

As a JW-in-protest, do you expect that there will be change in the WT Organization or the thinking of JWs as a result of your protesting?

It's been often said on here: The best Revenge is living well and having a good and happy life. (or similar)

18

Support request

by JeffT in

jw
friends

i just submitted my manuscript for armageddons disciple to comfort publishing.

apparently, it will take them two-three months to get back to me.

if any of you want to offer up thoughts/prayers/incense/candles/sacrificial chickens/bribes/sexual favors whatever on my behalf id appreciate it.

Incognito

JeffT;

You could look into publishing your book yourself. With computers and the internet, you don't have to jump through hoops to be accepted by a publisher, just as music artists no longer need record labels to produce, package and distribute their music.

Here's a great place to get started: http://www.lulu.com/

Check-out the Lulu Demo video for a review of how it works.

Incognito

4

cov

by cskyjw.sun in

circuit overseer visit(cov) supposed to happen once every 6 months may actually be as frequent as once every 3months.

Incognito

Has this already started occurring? Is this frequent visitation primarily limited to your congregation or also all others in the circuit?

If primarily your congregation, I'd suspect that there is some major 'situation' in your congregation, requiring the Circuit Manager's frequent attention. This may be a matter that you're not privy to.

53

If I'm so intelligent how did I get drawn in to it all?

by Lozhasleft in

jw
friends

i consider myself an intelligent woman...maybe not strong on the 'common sense' front, but academically i've done pretty well...so...how on earth did i not see through it all when i was studying in the beginning???.

i remember worrying about their 'sales pitching' styles and their arrogance of believing they had the 'truth' ...but still i got involved and became totally immersed in it all.

i feel like i sacrificied our whole family to them, who now shun me.. yesterday, my new son in law, he's a lawyer, asked me how i could have believed it wasnt a cult (topical word this week here) he said he didnt understand how i could have been persuaded to believe it all and trust them with so much and for so many years...... i feel ashamed of myself that i did and that i brought all this upon our family...anyone else relate?.

Incognito

Witnesses also often target people who are undergoing a major life changing circumstance (critical illness, death in family, new baby, etc) as this can bring out the emotional aspects of a person who would normally be considered analytical, sceptical, resistant or unemotional. These circumstances often cause people to question the meaning of life or look for ways to a better future for their new child, opening the door for anyone providing somewhat logical answers to their concerns.

Some years ago, 'The Society' had been promoting witnesses to push their 'Studies' to become baptised within 6 months of association. I think that this is no longer promoted as much as I believe it's not as successful as converting over a longer term.

I believe people are less resistive to new ideas with the ideas more easily adopted if they are presented gradually and repeatedly over an extended time. How many new converts would have converted if everything they needed to know about becoming a JW was made known to them all at once?

With new ideas gradually presented over an extended time, the 'Study' will probably not even realize that they're being conditioned to think and act differently whereas if information was presented all at once, not only would it be too much to absorb, there would be too much to consciously change in their life and they'd probably not be willing do it.

Witnesses also employ pre-emptive scenarios to promote that only JW's are the true religion. A typical example would be for a JW to inform their Study early on that the Bible said that 'True Christians' would be hated for knowing and proclaiming the Truth. The Study is told that their family may not like them and may hate them for studying with JW's although these same family members would probably not have a problem if the Study were interested in becoming a Catholic, Baptist or Anglican. This would then be presented as having the true religion as only the 'True' religion would be hated. If the Studies family expressed any negativity toward JW's, this might then support that JW's must have the 'True' religion.

Considering the KH love bombing, a new 'associate' may feel that they have finally found a place where they fit-in and belong. Even if the person recognized something was wrong with the doctrines, the fact of meeting so many nice, friendly, smiling and seemingly intelligent people, places the Study as minority so they might consider that they've not understood something properly, further making it easier and more likely for them to suppress their doubts.

Once adopted within the group, the new convert is treated as though there is something wrong with them if they express questions or alternate thoughts on subjects that have already been discussed previously. Their new JW friend who spent so much time on them, likely will now become upset and expresses regret for wasting time that would have been better spent converting other people. Fear of acceptance and loss of friendship makes it more difficult for the person studying to back-away from proceeding with becoming a full fledged JW.

19

Convention

by CrimsonAshes in

jw
friends

just got back fromt he convention.

it was unbelievable.

deep....and very interesting..

Incognito

Sounds like the usual JW description of every meeting, talk or article when there is nothing specific to say.

'Interesting!'
'Very interesting!'
'In Depth'
'Deep'
'Thought Provoking'
'Encouraging'
'Up Building'
'Enjoyable'

Always made me wonder when someone used these words if they actually had learned, heard or understood anything but felt obligated to say something seemingly positive.

INTERESTING!

37

Why do you visit this site?

by exwhyzee in

if being one of jw's is truly behind you, why do you visit this site years later to discuss the subject ?

i know why i do but am curious why others do and how long it will continue.

when will enough be enough?.

Incognito

As a practising Witness, you’re led to believe that something must be wrong with you if you don’t agree 100% with ‘The Society’ or if certain proclamations don’t make sense.

The religion is set-up so that you can’t openly question any of the teachings so if you have a differing opinion and are not 100% in acceptance of all the WT teachings, you’ll likely feel isolated, alone, wrong and possibly even defective. You can’t feel comfortable discussing your feelings with another witness and are led to believe that discussing your concerns with anyone outside the religion will bring reproach upon Jehovah and his Organization.

This site can provide a place of belonging since being a JW is so encompassing, many have no non-JW friends and have disposed of relationships with relatives who were not JWs.

This site offers the opportunity to openly but anonymously compare your concerns with many others who have experience and understanding of any issues you choose to present. Often, others have had similar concerns and views on the same issues. This can assist validating you and your feelings and thoughts, helping reduce the feelings of isolation and of something being wrong with you.

Over time, your need for this site may decrease as you let-go of the stranglehold many find the WT has over us. This stranglehold includes fear, guilt, feelings of inadequacy, indecisiveness, need of acceptance and many others. Although over time, you may be able to put many of these issues behind you or at least reduce their effects, you may realize that being a JW is a component of your life’s past which you cannot now change or eliminate. It is part of you! Although you might now regret being a member of the religion, it is a component of the person you have now become so you may as well embrace it instead of expending much energy fighting or denying it.

Use it as a learning experience to assist you to move forward to becoming the person you want to be instead of a person as dictated by an organization or group. Likewise, accept others for their differences and individuality instead of in-spite of them.

Many remain long term participants here, not to fulfill their own needs, but to help lurkers and new participants open their minds and realize their own potential, empathising and showing compassion for new members who were not shown kind qualities at the Kingdom Hall.

Often, active witnesses that do lurk or participate here will fight tooth & nail against anything ‘negative’ of their beloved organization, sometimes for years. Although they may openly rally for the organization, calling ex-jws apostates and liars in a mean spirited manner, they often know in the back of their minds that much of whatever is presented here is in fact true.

I believe that there is a certain percentage of ex-jws that although are now fully detached from the religion, come here to see what ‘New Light’ the WT is proclaiming. I think they shake their heads in wonder at reasonably intelligent people (JWs) continuing to unquestioning accept whatever is put forth, no matter how illogical and unfounded in the bible. I think they like to see what they would be required to believe today if they had remained JWs.

60

"We're Sooo Deep In This Time Of the End"

by minimus in

jw
friends

i heard that many in my jw family are seriously crowing those words.. do witnesses have short memories or what??.

they sound more like false prophets to me.

they can't keep crying wolf..

Incognito

I hear you stiilla.

Witnesses grab onto any negative world event, no matter how minor (not that your examples are minor) to say `See, this proves it`s the time of the end`. Many are actually giddy with excitement.

Still, while reflecting on their years as witnesses and the previous world events where nothing ultimately happened (relatively speaking), I know some witnesses are starting to panic and will overemphasize statements made from the platform to try to compensate for their own doubts.

60

"We're Sooo Deep In This Time Of the End"

by minimus in

jw
friends

i heard that many in my jw family are seriously crowing those words.. do witnesses have short memories or what??.

they sound more like false prophets to me.

they can't keep crying wolf..

Incognito

I think that many Witnesses, especially long timers, get thinking about all of the years that have passed since the bid 'A' was supposed to be here, they start to panick and say thoses words to try to convince themselve and try to make themselves feel better. The same goes for "things are so bad.....it CAN"T go on for much longer!"

If I had a nickle for each time I've heard either of those statements in my life, I could buy the entire WatchTower organization.

82

Most Annoying Things That Happen At JW Meetings

by LittleSister in

jw
friends

today i was remembering how angry i used to get at the meetings and all the little irritations that in the end would just make my blood boil these included:.

prayers that go on foreverstudy or wt conductors still taking comments when its clear that the point has been covered 20 times alreadymeetings over running by more than 5 minsmy favourite was this one elder who would play guess the point i am thinking of.

he would keep rephrasing the question from the wt until someone would bring up the point he was thinking of.

Incognito

We had one Elder who used 'Jehovah' about every fourth word during his long public prayers. One old lady behind us, started loudly mimicking him during the prayer 'Jehovah, Jehovah, Jehovah, Jehovah'. Not a nice thing to do but she obviously was as annoyed as everyone else and wasn’t hesitant to passive aggressively let others know how she felt.

A Witness relative came to visit one Sunday. An older Elder gave the opening prayer to the Public Talk that was so long, our relative leaned over to me when it was finally over and asked 'Was that the talk?'

We have a relation who chooses not to prepare for his talks as he thinks he can improvise and deliver a smooth and fluent talk. In reality, his talks are torturous and embarrassing, full of 'Ahs, ums' and clearing his throat while rambling on and on.

Although this has since been halted by ‘The Society', we once had a PO that would routinely play recordings of talks for the Sunday meeting. This is supposed to be a ‘Public’ talk and as boring as a regular talk is, imagine looking at a vacant stage for 60 minutes while listening to a disembodied voice drone on. I think initially, a guest speaker failed to show so a recording substituted. Later, I think this PO started unofficially scheduling recordings instead of inviting a speaker as he was big into recording every assembly and meeting part.

One Sunday, another Elder (previous PO with high level contacts within the WTS) had enough. After it was announced that there was to be yet another recording played, this other Elder left his seat, went to the tape machine and turned it off, announcing ‘There will NOT be a recording played. Start the Watchtower study.’ I don’t recall another recording ever being played again.

There was one circuit assembly where the Elder giving a talk, stated that he and his family ONLY associated with other Witnesses that were viewed as stronger and more spiritual than they were. His family would only associate with other Elders, Pioneers and Bethelites as these people are supposedly, spiritually up-building.

Although he was trying to promote this attitude as proper and to be copied, he was actually promoting a division within the congregation by implying that regular R&F witnesses in good standing, weren’t desirable associates. He didn’t seem to realize that if everyone followed his attitude, the Elders, Pioneers and Bethelites would not associate with his family as his family was the least spiritual from amongst that group.

18

Anyone using Windows 7

by MsDucky in

jw
friends

if so, is it better than vista?

and did you have to buy a new upgraded microsoft office with it?.

Incognito

Windows 7 is now running on 3 of our 4 computers.

Our two laptops came originally equipped with Vista. I trialed the pre-release candidate of W7 on the slower laptop, which loads and runs W7 faster and with less security hassles than Vista. Full release versions of W7 Home Premium now run on both laptops.

The two desktops are older (2003) and have been running XP Pro. I just installed W7 on one with no apparent issues while the other similarly equipped (AMD 2400+) desktop machine I have yet to convert to W7.

W7 will run on older hardware that would never support Vista. You need at least a 1Gh processor and 1 GB of RAM, which even many low power net-books qualify.

W7 is also one of the first O/S releases where a high percentage of older machines are being converted over instead of being replaced.

All of the public apprehension and fear surrounding Vista is now non-existent with W7.

Often, people will await the release of SP-1 before adopting a new operating system. In the case of W7, there is no reason to wait as it has been the smoothest, least issue laden O/S release to date.

SP-1 to be released later this year, is only to be a roll-up of updates provided since release with no major fixes or revisions expected. Perhaps the large scale open public pre-release beta testing was the smartest thing Microsoft ever did.

Both Office 2003 and 2007 install and run on W7 with no issues.